Investigator, family member revisit site of cold case murder

Latasha Miller kneels at the cross marking the place her mother's body was discovered October 8, 1999

Dothan It’s been nearly 16 years since the body of Cynthia Gail Wilson was found in a remote area less than a mile from Ross Clark Circle. Her remains were discovered just off Columbia Highway after police received an anonymous telephone tip.

“There’s always a chance any cold case can be solved,” said Police Lt. Scott Long, who was a young investigator at the time. Long, today, supervises the Criminal Investigation Division of the department. “We spent many, many hours out here processing this particular scene.”

Wilson is believed to have been dead for nearly a month when her decomposing body was discovered October 8, 1999. Police say they received a tip from a pay phone caller telling them where the body was located. The man claimed he was picking up aluminum cans when he spotted it.

WTVY news files reveals the man called a second time after police issued pleas through the media that he do so. Both calls originated outside convenience stores but the man who placed them was never located. Police, at the time, said he was not considered a suspect in Wilson’s killing according to a news report filed by Wayne May who is now WTVY’s assignment manager.

Wilson’s daughter, Latasha Miller, was in her early 20’s at the time her mother was killed. She revisited the murder scene Monday---brush had grown so thick over the years it was difficult to locate the cross.

What is not difficult for Ms. Wilson is remembering the day she learned of Wilson’s death. “We were at my sister’s house and we were all just sitting around when we got the phone call and I was just in shock,” she recalled.

Cynthia Wilson, 44 years at the time of her death, was last seen four weeks before her body was discovered. She was last seen in the 600 of East Newton Street talking to person police have never been able to identify.

Long said it’s unclear if Wilson was killed where her body was found or murdered elsewhere and the body dumped at the site. In fact, Long said the remains were so decomposed that the way she was murdered has never been determined though natural causes and suicide have been ruled out.

“The fact so many years have gone by troubles us a great deal because that person has not been brought to justice. “It’s personal to me, especially since I was one of the initial investigators assigned to the case,” Long said.

“I’ll never forget how I felt when we came out here and put this cross and picture up,” Miller said. The picture has since disappeared but, despite surrounded by growth, the cross remains steadfast as does the police department’s resolve to solve the murder of Cynthia Gail Wilson.

The body of Cynthia Gail Wilson was removed from the scene of where it was discovered in this 1999 WTVY file video

Photo of Cynthia Gail Wilson taken several years before her murder (family submitted.)

Lt. Scott Long and Cynthia Gail Wilson's daughter, Latasha Miller, talk as the survey the scene where Miller's mother's body was discovered in this WTVY July 6. 2015 photo

Lt. Scott Long and Cynthia Gail Wilson's daughter, Latasha Miller, talk as the survey the scene where Miller's mother's body was discovered in this WTVY July 6. 2015 photo

Cynthia Gail Wilson was reported missing September 7, 1999. Her body was discovered October 8, 1999.

Wilson, 44, was last seen in the 600 block of East Newton Street. At the time of her death Wilson resided on Pine Street.

Method of murder never determined due to decomposed body. Suicide or natural causes ruled out.

Body was discovered after pay phone calls were made to police. One is believed to have originated from a now-closed store at the intersection of Alabama Highways 203 and 109 in the Rehobeth area. The other originated from a store at the corner of Fortner and South Park in Dothan.

Information is being sought and a reward offered in the case. Call the Dothan Police Department at 334-793-0215 or Crimestoppers at 334-793-7000.

If you are not comfortable calling police, email the reporter of this story. ken@wtvy.com

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